Rita Dams studied solo singing and violin at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. After graduating Cum Laude in solo singing and opera, she continued her vocal studies with Jard van Nes, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Nicole Fallien and Diane Forlano.

Her singing career commenced during her studies when she was invited along with tenor Marius van Altena to sing in Kees Otten's Syntagma Musicum, at the time a world famous ensemble and one of the first to specialise in the study of historical sources and the performance practice of music from 1050 – 1650. With this ensemble she performed in most of the important concert halls in Europa, and went on extended tours to lands including the USA and Japan, as well as making numerous recordings.

Rita Dams’ extended repertoire varies from Monteverdi to Boulez, and includes opera, concert, oratoria, and a wide song repertoire.

She made her opera debut with the performance and recording of Orindo in Handel’s Admeto in ’77 in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam with Il complesso Barocco conducted by Alan Curtis. She was a regular guest in productions at the Holland Festival and the Vara matinee (including Antigone by Honneger; Die Gezeichneten by Schreker; Die tote Stadt by Korngold).

As well as her performing career Rita Dams has always taught. After completing her studies in ‘84 she was offered a post as singing teacher at the Conservatorium in Arnhem, where she worked until ’88. In ’87 she was asked to teach at her former school, the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, where she has remained until the present day. Students come from far and wide to study with her in the classical and/or early music departments. She regularly gives courses abroad, usually working together with the famous Israeli physical therapist Ami Shamir. In 2002 Rita Dams took the decision to retire from performing in favour of her educational activities. Many of her students now have successful solo opera/concert careers, or as singers in professional ensembles.